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| Southeast Asia |
| Malaysian court rules use of 'Allah' exclusive to Muslims |
| 2013-10-15 |
| [Rooters] A Malaysian court ruled on Monday that a Christian newspaper may not use the word "Allah" to refer to God, a landmark decision on an issue that has fanned religious tension and raised questions over minority rights in the mainly Mohammedan country. That's only right. Allen's an entirely different god, an idol, in fact. His representation is the stone they worship every year at this time. Christians and Jews worship an entirely different God, one that doesn't require human sacrifice. The unanimous decision by three Mohammedan judges in Malaysia's appeals court overturned a 2009 ruling by a lower court that allowed the Malay-language version of the newspaper, The Herald, to use the word Allah - as many Christians in Malaysia say has been the case for centuries. About 200 Moslems outside the court in the administrative capital Putrajaya, greeted the decision with shouts of "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest). "As a Moslem, defending the usage of the term Allah qualifies as jihad. It is my duty to defend it," said Jefrizal Ahmad Jaafar, 39. Jihad is Islamic holy war or struggle. RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY Lawyers for the Catholic paper had argued that the word Allah predated Islam and had been used extensively by Malay-speaking Christians in Malaysia's part of Borneo island for centuries. They say they will appeal against Monday's decision to Malaysia's highest court. Christians in Indonesia and much of the Arab world continue to use the word without opposition from Islamic authorities. Churches in the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak have said they will continue to use the word regardless of the ruling. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |